Nationals’ Zimmerman signs extension
Posted February 26, 2012 1:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and the Washington Nationals have agreed to add $100 million over six years to his contract, with a full no-trade clause, the team announced on Sunday.
Zimmerman already was signed for 2012 and 2013, with $26 million remaining on the five-year, $45 million contract he got at the start of the 2009 season. He’s now guaranteed $126 million over the next eight seasons through 2019, and there is a club option for 2020.
The two sides talked late into the night Saturday, making enough progress for the 27-year-old Zimmerman to extend a self-imposed deadline that coincided with that day’s start of official full-squad workouts. He wanted to get a deal completed now or postpone talks until after the season so his contract situation wouldn’t be a distraction in the clubhouse for the Nationals, who are hoping to finally be competitive in the NL East.
Zimmerman was the team’s first draft pick after the Montreal Expos moved to Washington before the 2005 season — he was taken No. 4 overall that year after playing college baseball at Virginia — and quickly emerged as the face of the franchise.
He’s been an NL All-Star, and also collected Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
Last season, Zimmerman was limited by injuries to 395 at-bats over 101 games. He hit .289 with 12 homers, 21 doubles and 49 RBIs.
For his career, Zimmerman has a .288 batting average, 128 homers, 214 doubles, 498 RBIs, a .355 on-base percentage and .479 slugging percentage, and he’s considered one of the top defensive third basemen in the majors.
He’s also emerged as one of the leaders of the team in the clubhouse.
“In my opinion, it’s just another indication the organization is moving in the right direction,” shortstop Ian Desmond said. “To lock up a guy and show loyalty to your franchise player … and to see ‘Zim’ be happy at home, and not to have to worry about that any more, it’s going to be nice. I’m happy for him. We definitely need him.”
The average annual value of Zimmerman’s extension is $16.7 million; the average for the eight years works out to $15.75 million. Zimmerman is one of six major leaguers signed through at least 2019, joining Albert Pujols of the Angels, Cecil Fielder of the Tigers, Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies, Ryan Braun of the Brewers and Matt Kemp of the Dodgers.
